Chimney cowls



Aug. 1961 G. H. MILLETT 2,994,260

CHIMNEY COWLS Filed June 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO/Q/V VS 1961 G. H. MILLETT 2,994,260

CHIMNEY COWLS Filed June 12. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [4g INVENTOR.

650865 A/ M/ALET? 4770/?IVEYS United States Patent 2,994,260 4: r Y coWLs This invention relates to novel chimney cowls of the type having wind-positioned rotary shields.

The primary object of the invention is to provide mechanically and structurally superior chimney cowls of the kind indicated which are more positive, eflicient, and reliable in the prevention of excessive draft, condensation, and enrtance of rain or snow in chimneys.

Another object of the invention is to provide easily installed chimney cowls of the character indicated above which are adjustable to adapt them to installation in chimneys of different sizes, and which have mounting means which are devised for adjustable installation of the cowls in both lined and unlined chimneys, the ease of installation being such that the cowls can be readily and correctly installed by relatively unskilled persons.

A further object of the invention is to provide rugged and long-lived chimney cowls of the character indicated above which are uncomplex in construction, being composed of a small number of simple and easily assembled parts, and which can be given finished and decorative forms which enhance the appearance of chimneys on which the cowls are installed.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a cowl of the invention installed on a lined chimney;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are horizontal sections taken on the lines 44 and 55, respectively, of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another chimney cowl of the invention installed on an unlined chimney; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of FIGURE 6, the chimney being shown in vertical transverse section.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like and related numerals designate like and related parts throughout the several views, and first to FIGURES 1 to 5, the chimney cowl therein shown, and generally designated .10, is devised for installation on a lined chimney 12, having a masonry body 14 containing a tubular liner 16 extending above the top 18 of the body 14.

The chimney cowl 16 comprises an open rectangular, horizontal base frame 20 of fiat bar stock, which com prises four similar L-shaped side bars 22, having long straight portions 24, which terminate at one end in first right-angular outwardly directed ears 26, and at their other ends in short arcuate portions 28 which have rightangular outwardly directed ears 3t Ears 26 and 30 of related side bars 22, are secured together by bolts 32, so that the frame 28 is expansible to clamp around chimney liners 16 of different diameters and rest upon the tops of chimney bodies 14, as seen in FIGURE 2. The body top 18 can be suitably built up around the frame 2% to assist in holding the cowl in place and slanted to provide gravity dainage away from the cowl and the chimney body.

The frame 26 further comprises a pair of similar rightangularly related diametrical horizontal cross bars 34, 36 which are longer than the width of the frame 20, and

which intersect at the center of the frame 20, and which have on their ends depending brackets 38, to engage the laterally outward sides of frame side bars 22, at the midpoints thereof. The brackets 38, as seen in FIGURE 2, preferably comprise laterally inwardly canted upper portions 40 and perpendicular lower portions 42, the latter being secured to the frame side bars 22 by means of bolts 44.

The bolts 44 also serve to connect to the frame 20, upstanding laterally outwardly and upwardly angled hood supporting arms 46, which have perpendicular ears 48 on their lower ends which bear against the outward sides of the lower bracket portions 42 and are traversed by the bolts 44. The arms 46 have upstanding perpendicular cars 50 on their upper ends. The arms 46 bear, for support, against the canted portions 40 of the brackets 38.

Mounted on and through the cross bars 34, 36, through openings 52 and 54 therein, as shown in FIGURE 3, is a bearing assembly 56 for a wind-rotated shield 78. The bearing assembly 56 preferably comprises, as shown in FIGURE 3, a vertical, upright bearing cup 60, which has external screw-threads 62, and a bottom wall 64 which is provided with an axial bore 66 which is enlarged and chamfered at its upper end, so as to provide a tapered bearing seat 68 for the conical lower end 70 of an upstanding spindle 72. A cap nut 74 is threaded on the lower end of the bearing cup 66, against the underside of the lower cross bar 36, and a lock nut 76 is threaded on the upper end of the cup 60, against the upper side of the upper cross bar 34.

Mounted on and concentrically spaced around the spindle 72 is wind shield 78, which is of vertical tubular form, having a plain cylindrical side wall 80 which is preferably imperforate, but is interrupted by a relatively large gap 82 having reinforced, parallel spaced vertical lateral wind-deflecting flanges 84, extending between the horizontal upper and lower edges 86, 88, respectively of the shield 78. The gap 82, as seen in FIGURE 4, can extend for substantially one-quarter of the circumference of the shield. The shield 78 is sufficiently larger in diameter than the associated chimney-liner 16, so that exterior moisture on the shield will drain away from and at the outer sides of the liner 16. p

The shield 78 is mounted on the spindle 72, so that its lower edge 88 freely clears the top of the frame 20, without excessive space therebetween. For this purpose the spindle 72 has an intermediate flat portion 90 to one side of which is rivetted, as indicated at 92, the rnidpart of a diametrical straight bar 94 having lateral lugs 96 on its ends, which are suitably fastened, as by weldings 98 to diametrically opposed locations on the inward side of the shield side wall 80, preferably with the bar 94 parallel to the plane of the gap 82, as shown in FIGURE 4.

The upper part of the spindle 72, above the shield 78, is journaled in a central bearing opening ltlll in the apex of a relatively flat conical preferably square hood 102, which has around its lower, peripheral edge a flange 104 which rests upon and is secured to the outward sides of the upper edge of the hood supporting arms, by means of bolts .106, the lower edge of the hood 182 thereby being on a level below and spacedly and concentrically surrounding the upper edge 86 of the shield 78, as seen in FIGURE 2. The hood 102 is substantially larger in diameter than the shield 78 with the sides of the hood lined up with the side of the chimney 12, so as to drain moisture outwardly beyond the shield 78 and the chimney liner 16. The hood can be made in two sections 103 if desired, as indicated in FIGURE 4.

Fixed, as by means of rivets 108 to the fiat upper end portion 110 of the spindle 72, above the hood 102, is a flat horizontally elongated, vertical, wind vane 112, which has a long arm 114 and a short arm 116, at opposite sides of the spindle 72. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the vane 112 is disposed diametrically of the hood 102 and of the shield 78, with its long arm 114 positioned at the gap side of the shield, midway between the gap flanges 84, so that wind pressure on the long arm 114 causes the shield to be rotated to put the imperforate or closed side of the shield to the wind and the gap 82 away from the wind, so that the wind is prevented from passing down the chimney and producing an undesirable down-draft therein. The vane 112. can be given any desired ornamental configuration.

The provision of the lateral gap 82 in the shield, and the sheltering of the gap 82, through rotation of the shield 78 by wind, provides for direct and untortuous exhaust of smoke and gases from the chimney, through the gap 82, which eliminates the less eficient exhaust characteristics of chimney cowls which involve less direct and natural exhaust arrangements, such as initial upward natural flow of smoke and gases, followed by directed downward flow thereof.

It will also be seen that installation of the cowl 10, by relatively unskilled persons, is readily feasible, since this involves only dropping the frame 20 in place on the chimney body top 18, around the liner 16, with the side bar bolts 32 in a loose condition, and then tightening the bolts 32 so as to clamp the frame 20 around the liner 16. These operations can be performed with or without the shield 78 and the hood 102 being assembled on the frame 20, these components being easily assembled or disassembled because of their simple bolted connections. When completely disassembled, the components of the cowl can be packed or boxed for shipment and storage in a fiat compact package.

The form of the invention shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, and generally designated 10a, is the same in construction as that shown in FIGURES l to 5, except for the condition to its base frame a of adapter fittings which adapt it for installation on the top 18a of an unlined chimney body 14a. The adapter fittings comprise four horizontal support bars 116, to rest upon the chimney body top 18a, and four vertical depending leg bars 118, to depend within and engage related sides of the chimney bore 120. The support bars 116 have inward ends secured to the outward sides of related frame side bars 22a and outer free ends 122 to rest upon the chimney body top 18a. The leg bars 118 have perpendicular lugs 124 on their upper ends which are secured to the outward sides of related frame side bars 22a and straight, laterally outwardly and downwardly angled main portions 126, which have free lower ends 128 which bear against related sides of the chimney bore 120. In a preferable arrangement, the inner ends of the support bars 116 engage the frame side bars directly, while the lugs 124 of the leg bars bear against the outward sides of the support bars, and common fastening; means, such as bolts 130, extend through the side bars and the support and leg bars to fix them together. It is obvious that a package can be made up to sell as a kit, which contains support and leg bars, to be attached to the base frame 20, 20a only where the cowl is to be installed on an unlined chimney, or the support and leg bars can be separately supplied to be bought only for an unlined chimney installation.

Although there have been shown and described herein preferred forms of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structures of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: r

1. A chimney cowl comprising an open base frame .to' rest upon the top of a' chimney body around the bore thereof, cross bar means fixed'on and extending across the frame, a bearing assembly fixed on said cross bar means at the center of said frame, an upstanding spindle having a lower end journaled in said bearing assembly, a vertical tubular wind shield mounted on said spindle above said frame and concentrically spaced from the spindle, said wind shield having a substantially cylindrical side wall, said side wall being substantially imperforate except for an interruption defining a gap constituting a lateral smoke and gas exhaust and having free vertical edges, said shield having open upper and lower ends, circumferentially spaced upstanding arms fixed on said frame having upper ends, said arms being angled upwardly and laterally outwardly beyond the frame, a conical hood larger in diameter than said shield and the frame and enclosing the upper end of the shield and extending laterally beyond the sides of the frame, said hood being fixed on the upper ends of said arms and having an apex portion spaced upwardly from the upper end of the shield and a lower peripheral edge portion reaching to a level below the upper end of the shield, said apex portion having a central bearing opening through which said spindle rises, and a wind vane fixedly mounted on the spindle above the hood, said vane having a longer arm positioned at the gap side of the shield and located midway between the edges of the gap, said base frame being rectangular and expansible and comprising four separate side bars, and clamping bolts assembling the side bars adjustably together at their ends, horizontal support arms fixed on said side bars to rest upon the top of a chimney body, and depending leg bars fixed on the frame side bars to engage related sides of a chimney bore.

'2. In combination, a chimney comprising a chimney body having a top and a bore, an open rectangular base frame resting upon said body top and around the bore, a vertical rotary tubular wind shield journaled centrally on and upstanding from said frame and aligned with said bore, said shield having a side wall interrupted to define a gap at one side of the shield, said shield having open upper and lower ends, a conical hood larger in diameter than said frame and concentrically and spacedly overlying the upper end of the shield, means stationarily mounting said hood on said frame, said shield having an axial spindle rising through an opening provided in the hood, and a wind vane fixed on the spindle above the hood and transversely aligned with the shield gap, the chimney bore being devoid of an upstanding liner, said base frame having separate side bars, bolt means connecting related ends of the side bars, horizontal support bars fixed to side bars of said base frame and extending laterally outwardly therefrom and having free outer ends resting upon the chimney body top, and depending leg bars fixed on the said side bars and extending into the chimney bore and engaging sides of the bore.

3. In combination, a chimney comprising a chimney body having a top and a bore, an open rectangular base frame resting upon said body top and around the bore, a vertical rotary tubular wind shield journaled centrally on and upstanding from said frame and aligned with said bore, said shield having a side wall interrupted to define a gap at one side of the shield, said shield having open upper and lower ends, a conical hood larger in diameter than and concentrically and spacedly overlying the upper end of the shield, a flange extending about the periphery of said hood, upstanding arms circumferentially spaced about said shield and having the lower ends fixed to said frame, bolt means securing the upper ends of said arms to said flange, an axial spindle rising through an opening provided in the hood, a horizontally-disposed straight bar secured at its mid-point to said spindle and having its ends fixed to'said shield, and a wind vane fixed on rd :3 bars, clamping bolts engaging ends of the side bars and 1,633,687 adjustably assembling the side bars together. 2,581,992 2,805,616 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 5,839 Hayes Oct. 10, 1848 152,631 Harlan June 30, 1874 690,531 341,440 Bailey May 11, 1886 340,739

6 Subert June 28, 1927 Wilder Jan. 8, 1952 Roth Sept. 10, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 29, 1894 France Sept. 23, 1930 Italy May 27, 1936 

